Orthopedic device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an orthopedic device designed to retain the fingers of a paralyzed hand in a relaxed and normal position while at the same time providing accessory means to permit the paralytic patient to utilize this device for other utilitarian purposes. The device comprises a contoured supporting member over which the palm and fingers of a hand may be positioned and retained in a comfortable and relaxed position. Specific accessory means are provided which can be detachably associated with said supporting member for the purpose of facilitating reading, card playing and similar uses together with easily detached means for firmly attaching said member to a flat surface.

United States Patent 1191 Lebold [4 1 June 25, 1974 ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE [76] Inventor: Steve Leb01d,:45 Church St.,

Montclair, NJ. 07042 22 Filed: May 11, 1973 [21] Appl. ,No.: 359,233

52 us. 01 128/77, 128/87 A, 128/DIG. 15, r 273/150 51 1 1111. C1. A6lf 5/10 [58} Field of Search 128/77, 133, 87 R, 87 A, 128/89, DIG. 6, DIG. 15; 273/150 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,220,476 3/1917 Ujdur 128/87 A 2,438,144 3/1948 Bunyar, Jr. 128/77 X 3,198,197 8/1965 Van Halanger 128/77 X 3,232,289 2/19 66 Zimmerman 128/87 3,547,112 12/1970 Courtney 128/77 3,581,740 6/1971 Sherbourne.. 128/87 A 3,590,817 7/1971 Wresch t 128/133 3,620,535 11/1971 Cerney et a1. 273/150 3,678,926 7/1972 Strittmatter 128/89 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-4. Yasko Attorney, Agent, or Firm-l. Louis Wolk ABSTRACT This invention relates to an orthopedic device designed to retain the fingers of a paralyzed hand in a relaxed and normal position while at the same time providing accessory means to permit the paralytic patient to utilize this device for other utilitarian purposes. The device comprises a contoured supporting member over which the palm and fingers of a hand may be positioned and retained in a comfortable and relaxed position. Specific accessory means are pro- I vided which can be detachably associated with said supporting member for the purpose of facilitating reading, card playing and similar uses together with easily detached means for firmly attaching said member to a flat surface.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Paralysis of limbs or extremities thereof is characterized by a tendency of the fingers of a hand, for example, to contract or become deformed and to the muscles thereof to remain for greater or lesser periods in a state of tension or spasm. This causes the patient to endure pain and discomfort and also prevents use of these members by the individual. Certain devices of this type are shown by the prior art, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,708,757, 2,043,153, and 3,176,683. These devices were intended to be used as means for restraining the fingers in normal position following massage or other treatment, or for use as a restraint to prevent injury to a treated limb. They were not intended to provide comfort and relaxation to the extremities or to provide means which would perform a useful function, at least partially replacing the lost functions of the paralysed members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a member generally shaped to conform to the palm of a hand relatively flat on the bottom surface and contoured in a rounded manner to comfortably fit the palm of the hand. The surface in contact with the hand is made of soft material for comfort and the member is padded or otherwise formed of soft resilient material. Adjustable strap means are provided for holding the hand to the device. Additional adjustable means are provided for positioning and spacing the thumb and other means are provided for detachably mounting accessory units for reading, playing 7 cards, or carrying on other useful functions. Adjustable and detachable means are provided for affixing the memberto a flat surface, preferably in the form of suction cups. The member may be so shaped and designed so that it can be used interchangeably for either hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, member 10 is in the form of a contoured pad, conveniently shaped along the general lines of a hand, made by supporting a soft cushioning material such as sponge rubber, sponge vinyl polymers, resilient polyurethane foam, or fibrous cellulosic material between felt layers 11 and 11a. The felt layers and cushioning material, are assembled by sewing, adhesives and the like. The pad is flat on the bottom and contoured on the upper surface as shown in FIG. 4. The upper surface of the pad is provided-with two pairs of straps l3, l4 and 15, 16 for attachment over the fingers and wrist respectively, of a hand, when positioned as shown in FIG. 1. The straps may be provided with attaching means, such as snaps, buckles or clamps, but preferably with interlocking fabric surfaces of the type known as Velcro." Velcro is'the trade name for a hook and loop type of fastener in the form of a pair of fabric members, the fibrous surfaces of which are designed to interlock when pressed together i but may be readily released by pulling apart. This construction is described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,717,437, 3,192,589, 3,387,34l, 3,147,528 and others. When this material is referred to herein it is understood that either member of the pair of interlocking members may be affixed to the unit, with the part to be attached having affixed thereto the cooperating element.

A short, removable generally cylindrical member 17, is provided for'positioning between thumb and forefinger to provide comfort and relaxation for the user and permit more comfortable and accurate positioning of the hand. This member is attached by means of a Velcro layer 17a on its under surface to a corresponding layer 18 on the upper surface of the pad. This area is large enough and elongated so that 17 can be properly positioned to conform to the particular size and shape of the hand involved. It is spaced sufficiently from the edge to permit positioning of the thumb between it and the edge of the unit. At the same time, at other points along area 18, may be positioned clip 25 attached to a base member 26, on the bottom surface of which is attached a layer 26a of Velcro. This clip is for the purpose of holding reading matter such as a magazine, or a letter or something else'which the user may wish to have available. Area 19 along the upper or forward edge of the pad is also a layer of Velcro.material to which may be attached an article retaining member 21 for reading matter or playing cards or the like. This means is formed to be positioned substantially vertically or at least angularly, on the pad by means of Velcro material layer 20 along its bottom edge. In this way it will be substantially upright when attached. This means is provided with slots of compartments 22, 22a, 22b and 220, as many as may be desired to hold various items which can be observed by the patient such as playing cards as illustrated in'FIG. l.

The entire unit 10 may be detachably affixed to a surface by means of suction cups 23 and 24 which are formed with attaching clamps 28 and 29, as shown. The pat itself may be provided with ventilating openings 27. As shown in FIG. 2 the member lit) may be shaped to be used interchangeably for either hand. As shown in FIG. 1, the left hand is supported by the member with spacing means 17 in position between thumb and forefinger. When used for the right hand, spacer 17 is atfixed to fastening strip 18a, also made of Velcro.

In use, the patient who is usually in bed or in a wheel chair, may apply the device himself if he has the use of his other hand. This is accomplished by first straightening out the fingers of the hand and placing them and the palm over the contoured surface of the pad, then attaching the straps and the attachments he wishes to use. In some situations this would be done by the nurse or someone else. The suction clamps are then attached and the unit is then held securely in place. As a result, the fingers of the hand are extended but retained in a comfortably curved position conforming to the contours of the rounded upper surface of the unit. In use the unit may be worn when the patient is seated or lying down and of course need not necessarily be attached to a flat surface. It may also be worn when the patient is ambulatory and for such periods of time as considered suitable by the physician.

Having fully described the invention herein it is intended that it should only be limited by the lawful scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An orthopedic device adapted to retain the fingers of a paralyzed hand in a relaxed position which comprises a pad which is relatively flat on the bottom surface and which is rounded and contoured to fit the palm of a hand on the upper surface thereof,

means for retaining said pad with said contoured surface in engagement with the palm of a hand positioned thereon,

an elongated strip of one element of a fabric attaching means of the hook and loop type positioned along the forward edge of the pad,

an additional strip of said attaching means positioned along each side edge of said pad and spaced therefrom,

. thumb spacing means having a cooperating element of said attaching means affixed to its under surface in interlocking engagement with one of said side edge attaching members,

and a substantially vertically extending article retaining member having a cooperating element of said attaching means affixed to the lower edge thereof and attached to the forward edge of said pad in engagement with the cooperating element of the attaching means and affixed thereto.

2. An orthopedic device adapted to retain the fingers of a paralyzed hand in a relaxed position which comprises a pad which is relatively flat on the bottom surface and which is rounded and contoured to-fit the palm of a hand on the upper surface thereof,

means for retaining said pad with said contoured surface in engagement with the palm of a hand positioned thereon,

an elongated strip of one element of a fabric attaching means of the hook and loop type positioned along the forward edge of the pad, 7

an additional strip of said attaching means positioned along each side edge of said paid and spaced therefrom,

and a substantially vertically extending article retaining member having a cooperating element of said attaching means affixed to the lower edge thereof and attached to the forward edge of said pad in engagement with the cooperating element of the attaching means and affixed thereto. 

1. An orthopedic device adapted to retain the fingers of a paralyzed hand in a relaxed position which comprises a pad which is relatively flat on the bottom surface and which is rounded and contoured to fit the palm of a hand on the upper surface thereof, means for retaining said pad with said contoured surface in engagement with the palm of a hand positioned thereon, an elongated strip of one element of a fabric attaching means of the hook and loop type positioned along the forward edge of the pad, an additional strip of said attaching means positioned along each side edge of said pad and spaced therefrom, thumb spacing means having a cooperating element of said attaching means affixed to its under surface in interlocking engagement with one of said side edge attaching members, and a substantially vertically extending article retaining member having a cooperating element of said attaching means affixed to the lower edge thereof and attached to the forward edge of said pad in engagement with the cooperating element of the attaching means and affixed thereto.
 2. An orthopedic device adapted to retain the fingers of a paralyzed hand in a relaxed position which comprises a pad which is relatively flat on the bottom surface and which is rounded and contoured to fit the palm of a hand on the upper surface thereof, means for retaining said pad with said contoured surface in engagement with the palm of a hand positioned thereon, an elongated strip of one element of a fabric attaching means of the hook and loop type positioned along the forward edge of the pad, an additional strip of said attaching means positioned along each side edge of said paid and spaced therefrom, and a substantially vertically extending article retaining member having a cooperating element of said attaching means affixed to the lower edge thereof and attached to the forward edge of said pad in engagement with the cooperating element of the attaching means and affixed thereto. 